By Our Correspondent
No fewer than 17 people have been confirmed dead following a series of coordinated attacks by gunmen across several communities in Plateau and Kaduna States.
The latest assaults, which occurred between Thursday night and early Friday morning, have left residents in shock and fear, reigniting concerns about the rising spate of insecurity in the north-central region.
According to local sources and community leaders, the gunmen, who were heavily armed, invaded the affected villages, shooting sporadically and burning down houses. Many residents reportedly fled into nearby bushes to escape the onslaught.
In Plateau State, several villages in the Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas were attacked, leaving at least a dozen people dead. Witnesses said the attackers struck in the dead of night, targeting homes and farmlands.
Similarly, in Kaduna State, gunmen raided parts of the Kauru and Zangon Kataf areas, killing at least five people and injuring several others. Locals said the attackers also looted foodstuffs and livestock before setting several houses ablaze.
Security agencies have since been deployed to the affected areas, with authorities confirming ongoing investigations to track down the perpetrators. The Plateau State Police Command and Kaduna State Government both condemned the attacks, describing them as senseless and barbaric.
The latest violence adds to a growing list of deadly assaults in Nigerias Middle Belt region, where long-standing tensions between farming and herding communities, coupled with banditry and communal conflicts, have resulted in thousands of deaths in recent years.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly called on the government to strengthen rural security networks, improve intelligence gathering, and ensure justice for victims of such attacks.
As of press time, displaced residents were seeking refuge in nearby towns, while local leaders appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance and increased security patrols to prevent further bloodshed.
